Family trip close to nature – Sustainable and fair on tour

There are many different options for a vacation. One of them is nature trips. Such trips can also be combined with a high level of sustainability on vacation. Those interested can find out what is important in this article.

Benefits of a sustainable and nature-oriented holiday for the family

Some readers will certainly wonder what advantages this type of vacation can have. The positive aspects include:

• the added value for the environment in terms of sustainability,
• switch off from the stress of the city
• as well as a varied experience for the whole family.

Added value for sustainability

On the one hand, families can create added value for the environment through sustainable behavior. This applies in principle to very different areas of life. There are various definitions of the term sustainability.

One of the best known dates back to 1987 and was developed by the Brundtland Commission of the United Nations. Essentially, it states that the term means meeting the needs of the current generation without in any way compromising the ability of future generations to do the same.

Against this background, global warming and change are currently of particular concern. In summer 2022, the unusually high temperatures made it clear how much this situation can affect people's everyday lives. In addition, various natural disasters such as the floods in 2021 can be linked to climate change.

For these and other reasons, the topic of sustainability is becoming increasingly important in people's everyday lives. Among other things, attempts are being made to create added value by using sustainable energy for heating and means of transport.

It may therefore be a good idea to think about how to plan a sustainable holiday at the same time. After all, families may spend several weeks a year travelling together, which means that behaviour during this time can also make a significant difference.

Switch off from stress and experience for the whole family

In addition to the added value for sustainability, such trips that are also designed to be close to nature offer a whole range of other advantages. Especially for families who live in a big city, the connection to nature can represent a clear contrast.

This in turn allows for a high level of relaxation and easy switching off from the stress that a family is often exposed to in everyday life for various reasons. At the same time, a nature trip offers an ideal opportunity to learn a lot of new things.

Long-distance trips, during which the family gets to know the nature of another country, are ideal for discovering exotic flora and fauna that do not exist in Germany.

This allows parents to broaden their horizons and gain a more comprehensive view of the world. The children, in turn, learn about the diversity of nature in the world at an early age, which is certainly a special and unforgettable experience, especially at a young age.

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 ​Adobe Stock / Daxiao Productions / 44097155

​Nature trips for families

Families can experience a nature trip in many different parts of the world. On the one hand, there is the possibility of organizing the family vacation yourself. This requires a lot of research and effort.

At the same time, there is a risk that if you are not particularly familiar with the area, you might overlook and miss out on some of the country's great natural features. However, there are providers who offer such nature trips with many highlights as a trip that is tailored to the needs of families .

For example, there is the opportunity to discover Namibia. Among other things, families get to know the Namib Gorge and the country's dunes - the latter are the highest of their kind in the world. The same applies to Kenya. On such a child-friendly nature and adventure trip for families in the African country, there are several national parks, a lake and a beach to discover.

Some approaches: What exactly should you pay attention to when planning a sustainable holiday?

In order to travel sustainably, families should pay particular attention to various factors that make this possible. These include:

• sensible planning of the trip,
• Local mobility,
• the catering and culinary delights on site,
• your own behaviour
• and activities that promote sustainability.

A sensible planning of the trip

Planning your trip carefully can make a big difference. This is especially true when you consider the greenhouse gases generated during transport. This is something you should pay particular attention to when traveling to more remote countries.

It is therefore more effective to take a longer trip of several weeks rather than many smaller short trips . This way, unnecessary transport routes can be avoided. Families can make the most of the children's long summer holidays, which usually last between six and seven weeks.

Parents should also make sure to plan their annual vacation well in advance. Incidentally, to compensate for the greenhouse gases caused by a flight, there is the option of paying compensation to various providers. The corresponding amounts are then used for climate protection projects.

In addition, you can pay attention to details when planning your trip. It makes sense to download the maps you need and take them with you in digital form. This way you can save paper that would otherwise end up in the trash after your vacation.

At the same time, it makes sense to pack fewer clothes and shoes rather than more. This way, the family has to carry less, and the means of transport is lighter as the weight is reduced. The latter is especially true if many holidaymakers follow this tip.

Local mobility

Local mobility is equally important. Using your own car or a rental car is less optimal. However, there is an exception if the vehicle is powered in a sustainable way, for example by an electric motor.

If this is not the case, you should use local transport such as buses or trains to keep your own carbon footprint within limits. If you are going on a nature trip with the whole family, you can also go on bike or hiking tours. These types of transport do not produce any greenhouse gases at all.

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 ​Adobe Stock / contrastwerkstatt / 46149819

Food and culinary delights

The same applies to food and cuisine as at home. It makes sense to use natural, seasonal and regional products in order to achieve high added value for sustainability.

This strategy also has another advantage: it gives families, especially on a long-distance trip, the unique opportunity to get to know the local cuisine in an authentic way and to broaden their horizons with regard to their own menu.

Behavior when travelling to natural areas

Behavior is particularly important when traveling in nature. Care should be taken not to engage in any behavior during your visit that has a negative impact on the environment.

This includes not trampling on plants or disturbing animals in their habitat in an inappropriate way, especially in protected areas. In addition, no rubbish should be left in nature.

In addition to polluting the environment, the waste may also pose a danger to the local animal species, which could poison or injure themselves. It is therefore advisable to transport food and drinks for a trip into nature in reusable containers made of sustainable materials.

Support local sustainability through special activities

There is also the possibility of making your own contribution to protecting the environment. For example, the family can spend a small part of their vacation time in natural areas or on the beach picking up rubbish left behind there.

Such actions are called "CleanUp" - they are so important that there has been a so-called "World CleanUp Day" for several years. Alongside their parents, the children learn in a very practical way the importance of a clean environment without rubbish.

Conclusion

A nature-based and sustainable holiday has many advantages for the family. These include added value for the environment and, on a long trip, getting to know exotic animal and plant species. In addition to sensible planning, suitable food and behavior on site are important for sustainability. Finally, to provide special added value, the family can take part in so-called clean-ups during their holiday, in which natural areas are cleared of rubbish.